(Photo credit: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

The Washington Nationals will try to find an answer for Jacob Misiorowski when they open a three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.

Misiorowski (1-2, 3.31 ERA) will oppose Milwaukee right-hander Jake Irvin (1-3, 4.85) in the series opener.

The Brewers right-hander has allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his six starts, but the team is 2-4 in those games. He has 51 strikeouts and 13 walks in 32 2/3 innings.

Last time out, Misiorowski allowed three runs on three hits over six innings in a no-decision against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He struck out nine and walked one in a game the Brewers lost 6-3 in 10 innings.

Misiorowski struck out leadoff batter Oneil Cruz with a 102.7 mph fastball. According to MLB.com, it surpassed Tarik Skubal's 102.6 mph delivery on May 25, 2025, as the fastest strikeout pitch by a starter since pitch tracking began in 2008. He then recorded another strikeout pitch at 102.2 mph.

'The way 'Miz' competed today -- you know, when the going's good, he's good, but the fact that the going wasn't good (for the team) and he still competed the way he did, I told him I'm really impressed with the way he handled himself,' manager Pat Murphy said.

Misiorowski will be making his first career appearance against Washington.

Irvin is coming off his best start of the season. On Saturday, he pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed four hits and struck out nine without a walk, lowering his ERA by more than a full run.

'It feels great,' Irvin said of the outing. 'We've had really good game plans, and I think that just being able to execute, go out there and stay on the offensive, it's made things really successful.'

Irvin is 0-5 with a 6.42 ERA in seven starts vs. the Brewers. He received a no-decision at Milwaukee on April 10 when he gave up three runs -- all on a Jake Bauers homer -- in five innings.

The Nationals have won four of their last five games, as they completed a series win against the New York Mets with a 5-4 victory on Thursday to cap a 4-2 road trip.

CJ Abrams smacked a two-run homer in the eighth inning to put Washington in front, and relievers Richard Lovelady and Gus Varland (third save) closed it out.

Washington improved to 12-7 on the road but is 3-10 at home.

'We know we're this good,' Varland said. 'I mean, the season didn't start out great, but we knew we had it in us the whole time. And now it's coming to fruition.

'Now, we've just got to do it at home.'

Washington's James Wood went 0-for-3 with a walk but made two impressive catches in right field. He robbed Juan Soto of a home run in the first, and in the fifth, he charged in to make a diving catch on Bo Bichette's line drive.

The Brewers have won three out of four following a 13-1 pasting of the Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. William Contreras went 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBIs, and Sal Frelick also went deep for Milwaukee.

The win was tempered by the early exit of starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff, who faced just six batters and exhibited lower-than-usual velocity.

'He doesn't feel like he's injured,' Murphy said. 'He said, 'My arm's dead. Nothing's coming out.' I think we just have to be really cautious here.'

--Field Level Media